Farewell to a good boy

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     A few weeks ago now we had to say goodbye to our lovely boy Hitch.  He was rescued as a puppy by Red Collar Rescue after being tied to a tree in the middle of nowhere near Bundaberg, narrowly escaping euthanasia then.  He found his way to the Animal Welfare League in Brisbane and was being fostered by a family on the northside when we collected him - that was in 2011 - and we had him for the rest of his life.  He was loyal, friendly, loved kids and was just a gentle dog.  He went for walks down to the water and the small beaches near us, mainly with his Mum when she went for her early morning walks. 

    He gave us a scare a few years ago when he developed viral meningitis and couldn't walk properly - fortunately Melissa noticed this just as she was about to go out and rushed him to the Animal Hospital where they treated him for a few days then sent him back home but he was never quite 100% after than. 

    Late last year he got sick again, coughing and puffing and unable to do much so again he was taken to the Animal Hospital where they treated him, and he recovered, and he was sent home with heart medication and other medication to keep the fluid out of his lungs. We knew he was on borrowed time. 

    He lasted another 7 months before he started breaking down again, couldn't stand or walk, coughing, breathless, and his heart was in AF by the time he was treated. We knew this time was coming but had been dreading it.  Fortunately we had several conversations with the kids about what was coming. Nonetheless it was a bit of a shock as it all happened so quickly one Saturday night and so it was then that we took him for one final trip to the Animal Hospital where the wonderful vets and staff were kind and compassionate and allowed us some time to say goodbye after he had been given something to relax him a bit.  Then it was one more injection and 30 seconds later he was gone.  


We miss you Hitch, you were part of our family for 13 years and it will take a long time to get over losing you.  


R.I.P  Hitchy Boy. 





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